What will the 2008 baseball season bring? In just 180 days, we'll have a World Series Champion. But between now and then, there are many storylines to watch for. Here's what I'm looking at...
- Can the revamped Detroit Tigers live up to all the hype?
Two fantasy seasons ago, I dropped Justin Verlander for supposed Phillie phenom Cole Hamels. Oops. With guys like Nate Robertson, 156 year old Kenny Rogers, and the aforementioned Willis, I think it's a pretty safe bet that they will coast to at least an AL Central Title.
2. What to do with Joba???
The Yankees have made it official. Joba Cahmberlain will be in the bullpen this season... At least to start. I know Joba has been bred to be a starter, I get that. But listen up Yankee fans, you will not, I repeat, WILL NOT, find a better heir to the Mariano Rivera throne than Joba Chamberlain. Sure, K-Rod's in a contract year, but over the last 4 years, his WHIP has increased from 1.00 in 2004 to 1.25 last year. Not to mention his lingering arm problems as well.
With Joba, you get a guy with two outstanding pitches as well as someone 5 years younger and (at least for now) at about 1/10 the cost of K-Rod. To me, this is a no-brainer. It takes a different breed of human being to close out games in Yankee Stadium, but provided he can get over the Attack of the Midges fiasco in Cleveland, he certainly seems like the one to do it. So while Joba might certainly become a top-line starter, he can be a lights-out bridge to Mo right now and slide seamlessly into his place when the time comes.
3. Will the addition of Johan Santana allow the Mets to get over the hump?
The knee-jerk reaction would be yes. After all, if it wasn't for that unspeakable collapse last September, the Mets would have been the prohibitive favorites in a very weak National League. But alas, it was not to be, and fans across the country were treated to Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Fogg starting back-to-back games in the World Series.
But let's think a little closer. I see a lot of weaknesses in the Mets lineup. Once you get past David Wright in the 5 hole... the lineup rounds out with Endy Chavez, Ryan Church and Brian Schneider, followed by the pitcher's spot. The Mets are going to have to rely heavily on that top of the order to enough runs to keep them in games. Luis Castillo will have to be the same compliment in the 2-hole as he was to Juan Pierre in Florida.
4. What about the base coaches wearing helmets?
What happened to Minor League 1st base coach Mike Coolbaugh was a tragedy. There's no denying that. But I feel like Major League Baseball's decision to require all baseball coaches to don protective helmets is an overreaction. By all accounts, this is the first time in over 125 years of professional baseball that a base coach had been even seriously injured by a foul ball. The vast majority of base coaches were major leaguers as well, and I'm sure they still have the reaction times to get out of the way of a line drive from over 100 feet away.
Why not make the pitchers wear helmets as well? After all, they are almost half as close to the batter by the time the ball is released. And they've been hit by many more batted balls than a base coach. I hope it doesn't come off as callous, because I feel it is a nice gesture by MLB, but I really don't think making coaches wear helmets was necessary.
My Preseason Picks
Here you go everyone, my preseason picks for 2008... on record for all to see.
American League
East- Red Sox
Central - Tigers
West- Angels
Wild Card- Yankees
National League
East- Braves
Central- Cubs
West- Dodgers
Wild Card- Mets
Post #2 will be up about 12 hours from now, and it will be a running diary of the Red Sox first game of the season. Till then, I'm sure you'll all be having nightmares about Stephen Curry busting your bracket.
1 comment:
With all due respect, the non inclusion of the phillies in the playoffs is blasphemy. Here (as unbiased as possible) is my analysis.
Yes, the Mets added Johan, big deal. But to be honest that is a marginal improvment when you think that they also lost glavine. And ooooh pedro is back. How can anyone count on hime? He is not to be counted as some unbelievable savior, he wasnt that great in 06. There 345 guys are not that much better than the phillies either. Oliver Perez is a headcase, Maine still not proven, and hernandez is 80 years old. The bullpen also has to prove it wont collapse again. The Braves rotation doesnt scare me either. Glavine and Smoltz are getting very old. Mike Hampton hasnt pitched since 2005. Chuck James, please.
Plus the Phillies pitching has improved. The first four are all solid: Myers, Hamels, Moyer, Kendrick. And to be honest, nothing could be worse than the fifth starter last year. And the bullpen got better. Improve by losing alfonseca, geary, etc. Get Madson, Romero, Gordon for a full season. And I know Lidge is a head case, but well, whatever, he can definately be a solid option, and he moves gordon back to the normal role as set up man.
The lineups are all good. I would rank it as Phillies, Braves, Mets. You cant give anyone an edge over the phillies, they scored the 2nd most runs in baseball last year. And then they get feliz which is better production than last year, plus ruiz has another year under his belt.
FINALLY, the fact that no one is giving the phillies (division winner) any shot will definately serve as motivation. And they finally know how to win, and want to prove they are there to stay.
So take that, shitty predictions.
P.S. Here this, boston or ny misses the playoffs.
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